Box-lid supporter.



BOX LID SUPPURTER. (Appumion med nw. 17, 1906.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATIIANIEL JOSEPH LITTLE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

BOX-LID SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 684,442, dated October15, 1901.

Application tiled December 17,1900i Serial No 40,10% (No model.)

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Be it known that I, NATHANIEL JOSEPH LITTLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State ofMinnesota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Box-LidSupporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in box-lid supporters, the objectbeing to provide simple and inexpensive means for automaticallysupporting the hinged lids of boxes when open.

To this end my invention consists of a flexible tongue attached to thelid and a guide or slot formed in the rear wall of the box. The free endof the tongue slides in this slot or guide, but fits so snugly thereinthat the movement of the tongue is retarded by friction.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, Figure lis a perspective View of a box, showing its lid open andhavingmy supportattached thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of Fig. 1, taken onthe line XX. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lid closed. Fig. 4is a modified form of construction, showing the guide formed by a groovein the rear wall of the box instead of by a cleat, as shown in thepreferred construction.

In the drawings let A represent the body of the box and B the lid, whichis hinged at 2 to the rear wall 3 of the box. The guide 4 is formedbetween the rear wall of the bx and the cleat 5 and is adapted toreceive the free end 6 of the flexible tongue 7, which is carried by thelid. The cleat is nailed at 8 or otherwise fastened to the rear wall. Asshown the tongue is iixed upon the lid by nails 9; but it is obviousthat other lmeans may be applied for attaching the parts. The relativeposition of the tongue and guide are such that the free end of thetongue is adapted to slide in the guide and bend between the lid andslot as the lid is swung. The tongue must iit to the slot or guideclosely, so that the friction between the two members will be sufficientto support the lid at any desired angle to the box. In the alternateconstruction shown in Fig. 4, instead of using a cleat inside the rearwall of the box to form the guide, as shown in the preferredconstruction, the rear wall is grooved at l() receive the free end ofthe tongue.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, isY

l. A device of the class described, consisting of a box and hinged lidjoined together by a non-resilient flexible tongue attached to the lidand a guide in the rear wall of the box; said guide being adapted toreceive and engage the free end of the tongue.

2. A device of the class described, consisting of a box and hinged lidmovably joined together by a iiexible tongue on the lid and a slotadapted to receive and form a frictional engagement with the tongue inthe box.

3. The combination with a box, of a lid carrying a tongue, and a wall ofthe box recessed to receive and forni a frictional connection with thefree end of the tongue; said tonguel being adapted to bend and supportthe lid when open.

4. A box-lid supporter, consisting in combination with the box and itslid of a non-resilient exible tongue carried by one member and a slot inthe other to receive and form a frictional engagement with the free endof the tongue.

5. A box-lid supporter, consisting of a nonresilient iexible tonguecarried by the lid, and a slot formed between the back wall of the boxand a cleat upon the same into which slot the free end of the tongue isadapted to t snugly. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHANIEL JOSEPH LITTLE.

Witnesses:

F. G. BRADBURY, L. E. WICKMAN.

